W. Virginia State Ag. Department Downplays USDA Findings Of Pesticides On 98% Of Apples Tested

[hatrack]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia agriculture officials are asking the public not be too hasty to cut apples from its diet in the wake of federal testing that found pesticide residue on 98 percent of the fruit screened in a yearly survey.

" is a big number, but when you look at the amount that is found on each of these samples, you're looking at a very small amount of pesticide residue," said Buddy Davidson, West Virginia Department of Agriculture spokesman.

"You're looking at samples where you're talking parts per million, parts billion and even parts per trillion," Davidson said Wednesday. "You're still looking at small amounts, and the vast majority of the samples taken were within the limits that are considered safe."

Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture found 48 different pesticides in its sampling of apples from across the nation, prompting the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit consumer-advocacy organization, to bump America's second most consumed fruit behind bananas to the top of its "Dirty Dozen" list. West Virginia is the nation's 10th largest producer of apples, with about 15 orchards in the state that produced 64 million pounds of the fruit in 2010, and 82 million pounds the year before.

EDIT

http://wvgazette.com/News/201106150872

[kirby]

1. Can't you just wash the apple before you eat it? n/t

[IamK]

2. better than eating a worm....

what does not kill you makes you stronger... unless it causes cancer or some wierd genetic crap...